New Revolver Acquisition and Cleaning Question

[Matt40]

Just acquired a new 3" Model 60 pro, my second revolver! It shoots like a dream, and is considerably lighter in weight than my first revolver, a 4" Model 10 that I bought a couple of months ago. I'm really beginning to like wheel guns, although you can't beat my Shield 40.

A question: I'm using a cleaner (Break Free CO Collector) on my blued Model 10, which I assume will be perfectly fine on my stainless steel 60. The directions say "safe on all metals and finishes." Anyone have a comment on Break Free cleaners?

 

[mauser9]

Been using Breakfree CLP on my stainless CS-9 for a little lube and cleaning for years. Liked by many but some many to choose from it's mind boggling. For an exterior wipe down I usually use that Remington green cloth which contains a bit of oil and rust inhibitors. Used a Hoppe's silicone cloth in the past also. Just a suggestion

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations on your new Model 60 Pro! I just bought one back at the first of March and so far I'm very happy with it. A word of caution though, check all of the screws, including the cylinder release, after shooting. They have a tendency to loosen up and drop out. A little drop of clear fingernail polish will help.

The M60 alternates as my EDC with my Shield .40 and M637. Enjoy!

 

[The Norseman]

S&W Pro Series Mod 60 357

Model 178013 Pro Series.S&W Model: 60.357 Magnum
5 shot.3"Bbl front sight: Night Sight.Rear Sight: Adjustable

Looked at and handled two this weekend. Nifty little Revolver.

Please share more about this Revolver. Likes/Dis-likes,
how does it handle, how's the thinner grips, and etc.

We would be shooting reloaded 357/38. Use would be
for hiking, plinking, and personal defense for four/two
legged critters.

What price did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you in advance for any replies.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I like the break free cleaner spray.....
It doesn't throw alot of particles? Up in the air as you're spraying. Just let it sit a bit and the stuff on the gun brushes off......
I would use the rem oil spray every now and then, but i dont like the stuff the aerosols throw up. I hate thinking of me breathing that stuff in. If its a petroleum based with silicone, cant be good for you.

 

[Targets Guy]

Model 178013 Pro Series.S&W Model: 60.357 Magnum
5 shot.3"Bbl front sight: Night Sight.Rear Sight: Adjustable

Looked at and handled two this weekend. Nifty little Revolver.

Please share more about this Revolver. Likes/Dis-likes,
how does it handle, how's the thinner grips, and etc.

We would be shooting reloaded 357/38. Use would be
for hiking, plinking, and personal defense for four/two
legged critters.

What price did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you in advance for any replies.

I love mine. Had it for about 8 months now. Had a hard time getting it sighted in but finally was successful and it shoots great for me now. Don't like shooting a lot of .357s through it. It handles .38p's and .38's just fine.



Paid $625 for it at my local LGS.

 

[Matt40]

Model 178013 Pro Series.S&W Model: 60.357 Magnum
5 shot.3"Bbl front sight: Night Sight.Rear Sight: Adjustable

Looked at and handled two this weekend. Nifty little Revolver.

Please share more about this Revolver. Likes/Dis-likes,
how does it handle, how's the thinner grips, and etc.

We would be shooting reloaded 357/38. Use would be
for hiking, plinking, and personal defense for four/two
legged critters.

What price did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you in advance for any replies.

Probably paid too much, but at least I have one now. I bought it at Cabelas in South Carolina for about $740, including tax and a 5 percent Veterans discount. I've been to the range once since I bought this gun, and fired only 50 rds so I don't have a track record yet with the gun. But, no complaints so far. The grips felt good to me, thicker than my Model 10, and are advertised to be "oversized." Trigger pull is steady although I fired primarily in SA and it's a hair trigger then. Using Federal .38 Special ammo. Hope this helps.

 

[Matt40]

Congratulations on your new Model 60 Pro! I just bought one back at the first of March and so far I'm very happy with it. A word of caution though, check all of the screws, including the cylinder release, after shooting. They have a tendency to loosen up and drop out. A little drop of clear fingernail polish will help.

The M60 alternates as my EDC with my Shield .40 and M637. Enjoy!

Thanks for the heads-up; I'll keep an eye on the screws from now on.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Personally I use Hoppes, but I have nothing against Breakfree. We used to use literally gallons of it to tank stainless Mini-14s at the academy range and had no complaints about it. For all I know they still use it.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have had one since they came out.
The 3 in 60 might be one of the best 357 trail/camping
revolvers around [ along with the 3in Sp 101]
Mine has seen every thing from 38 target to 180 gr 357 loads
[ Groo Monster Maulers] With out complaint.
For lube , as it is SS anything including oil of the Dip Stick [ don't ask]
will work.
The trick is to get a grip that fits.
Due to years of shooting magnums, I can't shoot any wood grip.
So I use Pachmayr Decelerator grips.
" Look bad, Feel Good"

 

[Bill In Texas]

Model 178013 Pro Series.S&W Model: 60.357 Magnum
5 shot.3"Bbl front sight: Night Sight.Rear Sight: Adjustable

Looked at and handled two this weekend. Nifty little Revolver.

Please share more about this Revolver. Likes/Dis-likes,
how does it handle, how's the thinner grips, and etc.

We would be shooting reloaded 357/38. Use would be
for hiking, plinking, and personal defense for four/two
legged critters.

What price did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you in advance for any replies.

I like mine just fine. As I said in my earlier post, it's in my carry rotation. Carrying it today as a matter of fact.

I think the stocks that came with the gun look awesome! However, they were a bit slippery in my hand, found myself having to adjust even with the lighter .38's. So, as Groo said, I replaced them with a set of Hogue Monogrips I had laying around. Those work for me even though they aren't as pretty, but this is a carry gun so....This seems to me to be a go anywhere type of gun. Trail, hiking, biking, fishing, it's light enough and powerful enough to be a good all around weapon!

The only .357's I've run through it have been some Federal full house 158 grain loads. The gun seems to be accurate with them, but they are a handful. I would like to try some lighter .357's through it just to see what they feel like, just haven't done it yet. I didn't buy the gun to carry .357's but I like having the option. .38's, +p's, not a problem at all!

I paid $675 for mine from Sportsman's Outdoor. That was as cheap as I could find one. Hope this helps!

 

[kaaskop49]

I like mine just fine. As I said in my earlier post, it's in my carry rotation. Carrying it today as a matter of fact.

I think the stocks that came with the gun look awesome! However, they were a bit slippery in my hand, found myself having to adjust even with the lighter .38's. So, as Groo said, I replaced them with a set of Hogue Monogrips I had laying around. Those work for me even though they aren't as pretty, but this is a carry gun so....This seems to me to be a go anywhere type of gun. Trail, hiking, biking, fishing, it's light enough and powerful enough to be a good all around weapon!

The only .357's I've run through it have been some Federal full house 158 grain loads. The gun seems to be accurate with them, but they are a handful. I would like to try some lighter .357's through it just to see what they feel like, just haven't done it yet. I didn't buy the gun to carry .357's but I like having the option. .38's, +p's, not a problem at all!

I paid $675 for mine from Sportsman's Outdoor. That was as cheap as I could find one. Hope this helps!

^^^^What he said. Hi Bill, almost wish I hadn't read your post as now I'll have to give an extra look to this gun in my LGS! You've probably read my drivel before, but as to ammo, may I suggest aluminum-case CCI Blazer .357 158JHP, a good medium load, and R-P or W-W .357 110gr JHP. These loads are controllable with practice in my aluminum-frame M&P 340s, and cupcakes in my snub Model 60. FWIW. Hope this helps.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[MichiganScott]

I was of the understanding that Break Free Collector is for long term storage, and that it will keep your firearm in grab and go condition for up to five years. I do not believe it is a cleaner. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Dennis]

Hoppes 9 for cleaning. CLP (shake it up first) for lube. But i have started using FP10 instead. No shaking required.

 

[BB57]

BreakFree/CLP and I go way back to when LSA weapons oil was more or less phased out as a small arms lubricant.

BreakFree/CLP is an excellent lubricant, and a decent enough powder solvent but it won't do much at all to remove copper or lead fouling. Copper fouling isn't really an issue in a revolver, but it is an issue in center fire rifles, and leading can be an issue in a revolver.

I'll use Hopes #9 as well as Shooter's Choice as the primary cleaner on most of my rifles and handguns.

I avoid cleaners likes Sweets 7.62 with higher percentages of ammonia in them, unless I'm specifically addressing a bad case of copper fouling in a center fire rifle barrel.

There are two exceptions where I will use a different cleaner:

Nickel plated firearms:

Ammonia isn't kind to nickel plating and I'll avoid using a powder solvent like Hoppes or Shooter's Choice that has any ammonia in it at all. In the case of my nickel plated revolvers, I'll clean them with just Break Free/CLP.

Black powder and corrosive primed ammunition:

Now that the WWII era GI bore cleaner is rarely encountered, I'll either use hot water to clean the bore and gas systems in these situations, or use a black powder solvent (which works great for removing corrosive residue) - then follow up with a regular cleaning and oiling with Break Free/CLP to displace any moisture and re-oil the surfaces.

Removing lead fouling:

I'll use Hoppes #9 or a similar cleaner and let it sit awhile then run an old bronze cleaning brush through the bore with a few strands of upper cut from a Chore Boy cleaning pad. I use Chore Boy only as it is solid copper, rather than copper plated steel, and won't damage the bore. With the lead loosened a bit with the solvent, a few passes with the Chore Boy wrapped cleaning brush we'll remove the lead in the forcing cone and in the grooves of the barrel.

With a nickel plated pistol, I'm careful to wide away all the solvent that might have gotten outside the bore, and then clean it with CLP to displace or dilute any solvent that is left.

 

[Matt40]

I was of the understanding that Break Free Collector is for long term storage, and that it will keep your firearm in grab and go condition for up to five years. I do not believe it is a cleaner. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Your response prompted me to re-read the label. You're correct, and I guess I'll have to buy some cleaner soon. Thanks for the insight.

 

[rbhtx]

I just bought a Model 60 357 with 3" barrel, but not the pro. Can't wait to shoot it. My first handgun. I just cleaned it. Ran some Hoppe's #9 through the barrel and cylinders followed by dry cleaning patches. Any particular places i should oil before shooting?

 

[Bill In Texas]

^^^^What he said. Hi Bill, almost wish I hadn't read your post as now I'll have to give an extra look to this gun in my LGS! You've probably read my drivel before, but as to ammo, may I suggest aluminum-case CCI Blazer .357 158JHP, a good medium load, and R-P or W-W .357 110gr JHP. These loads are controllable with practice in my aluminum-frame M&P 340s, and cupcakes in my snub Model 60. FWIW. Hope this helps.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Thanks, Kaaskop49! I'll give both of those rounds a try, appreciate the referral. I have read your stuff! always good!

 

[ArnoldStallone]

Cleaner

I use Slip2000 bore cleaner and automatic weapon lube on all my guns whether it is anything from an Ar15 to my Scandium frame Governor. I used CLP break free on my Arsenal AK and it began to take the paint of the muzzle and barrel. It's the last time I used Break Free.